The Redhead Owens Walkway Circuit

This walk visits the Owens Wetland on the Owens Walkway, before entering Redhead Beach and walking north to the Redhead SLSC. The cliffs to the north are worth a closer look. The walk then returns via the Redhead Beach car park, crossing a creek (your feet will get wet) and following the Owens Walkway back to the start of the walk. A good walk that gives an excellent sense of the northern end of Redhead.

Ken & Audrey Owens Walkway

The Ken & Audrey Owens Walkway on Cain St, Redhead is a community made coastal walkway[1] through restored bushland[2]. The walkway has two halves – one direction visits the Redhead Lagoon and a timber bridge viewpoint, and the other way visits Webb Park near the Redhead shops. The walkway was made in coordination with the Redhead Landcare group. Volunteers are always needed for working bee’s on the last Sunday morning of each month. For more information, contact 49447403. The boardwalk is made of concrete and timber, and the tracks are suitable for wheelchairs and prams. There are also well positioned rest areas along the boardwalk. There is a dog walking area just off the walkway. More info.

Owens Walkway Car Park & Viewpoint

The Owens Walkway car park (off Cain St, Redhead) offers easy access to the Ken & Audrey Owens Walkway[3]. The car park has a water tap[4] and seat[5]. The viewpoint at the car park is gained via an elevated boardwalk[6] and offers views down the coast to Norah Head. From the viewpoint, surfers and whales can be seen (Northern whale migration from June to July, southern migration from Sept to Oct) . More info.

Very easy

From the car park[7][8] (opposite 9 Cain St, Redhead), this walk follows the concrete footpath[9] gently downhill, while past the ‘Ken and Audrey Owens Walkway’sign[10] and elevated lookout[11] on your right. This walk continues into coastal forest[12] (passing a water tap[13] on the left) for about 30m, until coming to a T-intersection with the concrete Owens Walkway[14][15] (and some timber posts on your left).

(0.03km) Owens Walkway Intersection → Owens Wetland Lookout

130 m

2 mins

0m

0m

Very easy

Turn right: From the intersection[16], this walk follows the concrete footpath gently downhill[17][18], while keeping the ocean and wetland[19] to your left. This walk continues through coastal forest[20] for about 130m, to find an elevated timber lookout[21] and stone monument[22][23] (on your left).

Owens Wetland Viewpoint

This wetlands viewpoint[24] on the Owens Walkway (in Redhead) offers good views out over water, reeds and a large wetland. In the distance are large sand dunes, with Redhead Beach behind them. This viewpoint is easily accessible via the Owens Walkway and has wheelchair access. Wildlife, particularly birds, use the wetland as a breeding site and you are likely to see birds here. There is also a stone monument[25], dedicated to the ‘Cain St Landcare Project[26]’. The viewpoint is fenced[27] and has a timber seat[28].

(0.16km) Owens Wetland Lookout → Int of Owens Walkway & Cain St Trail

340 m

5 mins

2m

0m

Very easy

Continue straight: From the lookout, this walk follows the concrete footpath whilst keeping the wetland to your left. The footpath undulates gently as it leads through the coastal forest[29] for about 300m, until coming to a T-intersection[30], marked with some concrete posts, a drinking fountain[31] and a trail[32] (on the right).

Very easy

Turn left: From the intersection[33], this walk follows the concrete footpath gently downhill[34], while leaving the Cain St trail directly behind and initially keeping the drinking fountain[35] on your right. This walk continues through dense coastal forest[36] for about 140m until coming to an elevated timber foot bridge[37][38] over Owens Creek[39].

Elevated Timber Bridge Viewpoint

This timber bridge[40] is elevated over Owen Creek in Redhead. The viewpoint is amongst trees[41] and offers a quiet spot to sit[42] and look into the creek. Local ducks[43] live in this area. This viewpoint is wheelchair accessible by using the Owens Walkway.

(0.64km) Elevated timber bridge → Redhead Beach (Owens Walk end)

560 m

9 mins

3m

-7m

Hard track

Continue straight: From here, this walk crosses the elevated timber bridge[44][45], and follows the sandy track[46] south. This walk continues, undulating gently through coastal forest[47] (ignoring side tracks[48]) for about 400m, to pass timber posts[49] with views[50] of the ocean. Then this walk continues towards the ocean for about 100m, until arriving on Redhead Beach[51][52]. Please preserve the dunes – don’t walk on the vegetation.

Hard track

Turn left: From Redhead Beach (Owens Walkway end)[53][54][55], this walk follows the beach, with the ocean on your right. This walk continues for about 850m until coming to a section of beach with a faint track[56] with timber posts[57] visible inland, about 60m before crossing Freshwater Creek[58].Continue straight: From Redhead Beach (near Webb Park)[59], this walk follows the beach with the ocean on your right. This walk crosses Freshwater Creek (may be covered with sand) after about 60m and continues for about 230m, until coming to the Redhead Beach Surf Life Saving Club[60].

Redhead Surf Life Saving Club

Redhead Surf Life Saving Club, on Beach Rd, Redhead, is adjacent to a large car park and the main surfing area[61] of Redhead Beach. There are changing rooms with toilets[62]. The SLSC runs a kiosk[63], open from 7am daily[64], serving hot and cold drinks, hot food, snacks and ice cream cones[65]. More info.

Hard track

Continue straight: From the Redhead Surf Life Saving Club[66][67] (off Beach Road, Redhead) this walk follows the footpath[68], with the car park[69] on your right and vegetation[70] on your left. This walk continues for about 50m to the end of the footpath[71]. This walk then turns left into the car park and continues for about 120m, until coming to a locked metal gate[72] and ‘Dogs must be leashed’ sign[73].

Hard track

Veer left: From the south-western corner of Redhead Beach car park[74][75] (off Beach Road, Redhead) near Freshwater Creek, this walk passes around the locked metal gate[76][77] and follows the sandy track[78] (with timber steps) gently downhill, keeping the ocean on your left. This walk continues for about 40m, crossing Freshwater Creek[79] then turning right, inland. Then this walk continues gently uphill[80] and after about 70m passes through a level grassed area[81]. This walk then continues on a gravel track[82] for about 60m, until coming to the Owens Walkway four-way intersection[83], with a ‘Keep dogs on leads’ sign[84] directly ahead.

Very easy

Continue straight: From the intersection[85][86], this walk follows the timber walkway gently uphill[87], while keeping the ‘Keep dogs on leads’ sign[88] and ocean (in the distance) on your left. This walk continues through the low coastal vegetation[89][90] (passing two bench seats[91][92]) for about 400m to come to a concrete footpath[93]. This walk continues along the footpath for about 50m, to a three-way intersection[94], with a footpath (on the left) and a ‘Dog Exercise Area’ sign[95] (on the right).

Very easy

Continue straight: From the intersection[96][97], this walk follows the concrete footpath gently uphill[98], while leaving the ‘Dog Exercise Area’ sign[99] on your right. This walk continues for about 40m, until passing between timber posts[100][101] and coming to a three-way intersection with a gently uphill footpath[102] (on your right).Turn right: From the intersection[103][104], this walk follows the concrete footpath gently uphill[105], leaving the ocean directly behind you. This walk continues through coastal forest (passing a water tap[106] on the right), until coming to the Owens Walkway car park[107][108], with an elevated lookout[109] on your left.

Maps for the The Redhead Owens Walkway Circuit walk

You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.

Some more details of this walks Grading

Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk

Gradient

Around 2.5km of this walk is flat with no steps, whilst the remaining 750m has short steep hills.

Quality of track

Around 1.9km of this walk follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely, whilst the remaining 1.3km follows a smooth and hardened path.

Signs

Around 2.1km of this walk has minimal directional signs, whilst the remaining 1.1km is clearly signposted.

Experience Required

1.3km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience and another 1.1km requires some bushwalking experience. The remaining (850m) requires a leader a with moderate level of bushwalking experience.

weather

Around 1.8km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 1.4km is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.

Infrastructure

1.3km of this walk has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) and another 1.1km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats). The remaining (750m) has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the The Redhead Owens Walkway Circuit walk.

Fire Danger

http://new.wildwalks.com/wildwalks_custom/includes/walk_fire_danger.php?walkid=nsw-lakemacquarielga-nwnxx
Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.

Weather Forest

This walk starts in the Hunter weather district always check the formal BOM forecast or pdf before starting your walk.
http://new.wildwalks.com/wildwalks_custom/includes/walk_weather_danger.php?walkid=nsw-lakemacquarielga-nwnxx
Forecast snapshot